Smitten for the Mitten

The following link is a link an article about an event in Grand Rapids Michigan. The event is a food justice workshop put on by Well House- a non profit dedicated to housing homeless individuals in Kent County. Their company uses sustainable practices and has a large urban farm. Thanks for reading!

http://greenactionnews.net/blog/well-house-food-justice-workshop/

Hello Everyone!

I'm a little late to the party but wanted to get in on things!

I've recently moved to Ann Arbor from Chicago. Decided to make a go of full time permaculture, trying to figure out what that means. Right now the main priority is observation, lots of observation and interaction. It turns out there is a food forest 10 blocks from my new home and lots of permaculture in this region. Making plans for bees, gardening, and social permaculture. Very excited for the coming season and all the new things it brings.

just saying Hi from the Keweenaw
I am new to permies but have grown organically for 40+ years
the hugelculture caught my eye and I think its the answer for the land here
came from the port huron area 5 years ago and left an awesome garden for lots of rocks here
any one from up north on the site?

Mike

we passed 300'' of snow fall this week for the winter season

It has been a long winter down here also. You guys still have a lot of snow. I am in Jackson right now and only isolated piles are left and should be gone soon. Welcome!

the big lake is frozen over this year and that has an effect on our weather
looks like any out side planting will be the first part of June
the winter plants are doing great inside [south windows]
as soon as the snow is gone I can start stacking wood for the first hill
on the bright side there wont be any water shortage this year

Mike

I was so surprised to see how much farming is going on in the Keweenaw when we drove through there last year. It seems like more farms than in most other parts of the UP, other than maybe the 'Banana Belt', or maybe it was just the particular areas we went though. I always shook my head at the USDA hardiness maps saying the Keweenaw is zone 5(!?) What are your thoughts on that?

I thought I might check in as a Michigander with some interesting projects going on. In addition to running Michigan Mushrooms, a small mushroom farm and wild harvesting operation here in Ossineke(Northeastern Lower), we have a beautiful 1 acre 'forest garden'. I call it a forest garden not necessarily in the permaculture sense, although we are trying to move it in that direction, but for the fact that it was a forest and we have turned it into a garden. It's been 3 growing seasons since I felled the trees and set up raised beds. Every year we gain a little bit on it.

Sometimes I feel like we knocked something down just to build it back up again, and in a sense that is true. Each year we try to add more perennials along with running a market garden. Now we have apple, peach, pear, service berry, chestnut, filbert and hickory nut trees. Hundreds of raspberries, perhaps near a thousand strawberries, aronia, elder, buffalo, and several types of blueberries. Scores of different perennial herbs and flowers, both for medicine and aesthetics.

The long term goal is to grow into an eco-tourist type 'destination' farm, with a focus on sustainable agriculture and mushroom cultivation. We are planing to start doing log and low-tech mushroom growing workshops this summer, as well as wild mushroom/plant forays that we have been doing sporadically for a while now. I would love to network with other like-minded folks up in this area, although this particular part of the state isn't really known for it's progressive thinking, I imagine there must be a few other people with similar ideas somewhere not to far away.

zone 5 is kinda stretching it, the snow pack is what does the damage [333.5'' with another 6-8'' tomorrow night]
it is thawing but there is still 2-3' in the bush with mountain's every were [snow piles]
I am looking at 2 parcels to buy here but the snow is holding things up
foraging in the wild is awesome here on CFA land, trees and bushes every were
the hugel beds will focus on farm produce because we are at the end of the ''food chain'' here and the stuff we get is seconds from the suppliers

Mike

Yeah, I feel like zone 5 is stretching it even here in Northern Lower Michigan... The foraging is amazing throughout the UP! That is the exact reason we were up there last year and hopefully we will be able to make it again before the great mosquito/black fly hatching. Good to know about the snow depth, hopefully there is a little space in between the snow and the bugs where one can enjoy some time in the woods.

I only recently became aware of CFA lands, but from what I understand the rules on foraging vary from owner to owner. We just stick to the State/National forests to play it safe, but taking CFA into account nearly doubles the available areas for hunting.

Hey there, Michiganders (and Michigeese)!

I'm a brand-new Permies poster, though I've lurked for quite some time.
My husband and I are settling into my first chunk of land, just over 5 acres north of Lansing.
I'm a city gal, raised in Dallas and Metro-Detroit. A green thumb runs in the family, but I'm a bit of a black sheep with my preference for eggplants over orchids.
After college, the Hubby and I helped found a few community gardens in Lansing before moving out of the city and into our own (semi)rural paradise.


What I'm Doing:
Finishing home renovations
Putting in our last raised bed
Planting another 5 semi dwarf apple trees and keeping the deer off them
Raising a few rabbits
Cobbling together a permaculture plan for the 3 acres of forest we now own. It's chock-full of black raspberries, thistle, bergamot, a sassafras tree, lots of towering black cherry trees, and countless stuff I haven't yet ID'd.
That wicked ice storm in late December left us with a lot of clean-up to do.
The seed starts are growing (indoors), my peas are shooting up, and the blueberries and currants we planted have plump buds and little leaf florets!
I've been listening to various gardening and permaculture podcasts, and am known to binge on old BBC gardening episodes on Youtube.

What I'm Thinking About Doing:
Hugelkultur, as a solution to a steep slope. Is it possible to terrace with hugel-beds?
Chickens! Our coop is nearly complete, and I'm leaning toward Orpingtons and Australorps. Any opinions?
Fixing the barn roof. The builder built it... wrong. The roof is sliding apart at the ridge, and we're gonna try pulling it back together with a come-along and sistering all the cracked joints. Wish us luck!
Planting near Black Walnut trees. We have over a dozen mature ones in the front yard, which is frustratingly beautiful.
Building a passive solar collector and a lean-to style greenhouse on the south end of our house.
Starting a from-home business. My husband is super-handy, and I'm a Jill-of-All-Trades. I'd like to get into a small-time nursery business, and have been told time and time again that I ought to sell my sweets (cookies, cakes, breads, preserves) at local markets.
Finishing the nursery -- the baby nursery, that is! We're having our first little kiddo this fall.
Oh, and I've gotta get the rain collection hooked up ASAP!

What I'm Looking For:
Comfrey and Sorrel
Sunchokes
A good small tractor/mower/snow plow for about $1000.
ADVICE!

just saying Hi and welcome to the forum Audrey

we are still shoveling snow here in the Keweenaw [337.5 for the season][hopefully]
moved here from the Port Huron area
as for equipment check Ebay and also locals that have for sale items in their yard,auctions,estate sales ect
great deals can be had every were
the older [vintage] sears equipment is a good item to start with
currently we have a 1972 sears SS12 for snow removal and its still running strong

Mike and Angie

Welcome Audrey. Sounds like you are a busy one . A couple of thoughts - Sunchokes - Oikos Tree Crops is in Michigan and has a tremendous selection of sunchokes.

Using hugelkulure to build terraces - Sepp does not even like building them on contour because they will try to act as dams but are not built to act as dams. I expect that asking them to act as terraces would have the same kind of problem, and all that material deciding to go visit the bottom of the slope is a good definition of bad.

Lawton talks about using a "net and pan" system on steeper slopes, for growing trees. It uses pockets to hold water where you plant a tree (the pans) and a system of trenches to guide water to and distribute it among those pans (the net). So it helps manage water flow on the slope, helps retain water on the slope, and by growing trees helps even more to prevent erosion as the tree roots anchor and hold the soil.

The barn roof sounds like a serious problem. Any chance of getting the builder back to do it right, on his dime? Depending on lots of factors, there might be some hope in that direction...

Hello Audrey,

I'm probably within 15 miles of you. I have extensive hugel projects in their 3rd and 4th years, among my many other adventures (experiments). I do have sorrel and sun chokes I could share. If you'd like to get together drop me line.

Susanna

Woooo Wee, its cold spring guys, er folks, er fellow mitten inhabitants. I will be going to Detroit Metro from the SW part to hang out and look at the urban farming going on there. The inspection begins after breakfast on Sat. Anyone know anything about it? I am going cold and ready for adventure and snacks!

Detroit is more than dead hookers and used needles among the burned out homes and buildings. Not that I am against a after hours bar and snack palace.

Lots of good everywhere. Let me know if you mittens and kittens know anything.

BTW, there is this cool 24/7 burger joint someplace near Warren. Sweet burgers and the night crowd is of all types of folk.

Hi, Brad,
Re: apple trees. I have loads, all sizes. You are welcome to come and dig up as many as you can use. (Trust me, I will have dozens left.) My only requirement is that you fill in the holes completly. It's a long drive. I work during the academic year in central Michigan (Saginaw) and am in the UP (Munising, east of Marquette on the Lake Superior shore) from May to mid-August. Would love to have you visit. I can also show you how to prune an apple tree if that would help. Jude

I will be going to Detroit Metro from the SW part to hang out and look at the urban farming going on there. The inspection begins after breakfast on Sat.

Maybe this is too late, but I think you'd find the Earth Works Urban Farm (part of the Capuchin Soup Kitchen/ St. Bonaventure Monestary, believe it or not) worth your time. You can check it out a www.cskdetroit.org/EWG/‎ These guys are all Franciscan. I could never make MapQuest give me directions, but they will be happy to help if you call. Doing some amazing stuff and linked with a lot of other like minded people and groups in the Detroit area. (I used to serve on their Peace, Justice and Ecology committee. That is how I know them.)

Greetings Peter, Susanna and other Michiganders!

I made the newbie mistake of watching for email notifications to this thread, rather than checking myself. D'oh!

Peter, thanks for the input regarding hugelbeds on slopes. After a brief bout of research in the main hugelkultur thread I realized that it would eventually result in a not-so-minor landslide. Yikes! Back to the drawing board, I go. Most of this steep slope is densely wooded, so I'm in no hurry.

The separating barn roof IS a big project/problem. It came with the house, which was foreclosed upon. So, no building records. Apparently, it was built without permits, and they used shoddy materials like old road signs and not-long-enough 2x4s. We have a plan, which involves a few winches and lots of sistering with reclaimed lumber. Wish us luck!

Susanna, thanks very much for the offer! Friends from the ol' community garden gave us some sorrel, comfrey and sunchokes. I'm set for now, but may come a-beggin' in the future. Again, many thanks!


My garden is coming along nicely, despite the gamble I took by planting early. Snap peas are reaching for the trellis, as are Little Marvel Peas and English Champions (both shelling varieties). Spinach and lettuce sprouts are popping up, and our currant bushes are bursting with leaves! In the past month we've planted 9 dwarf and semi-dwarf apple trees, 6 blueberry bushes, a 12-foot bed of asparagus and about 20 strawberry crowns. Phew! Now, to see if my tomato starts survive until I plop them into the garden bed...

I still want to try my hand at a small hugel bed, probably planted with squash and melons. Any thoughts?

Here's hoping that your Michigan gardens are productive and pleasant, as summer approaches!

DeLaney Becker-Baratta wrote:

Michael Graydersicks wrote:Hi all, I'm in Detroit suburbia. I don't know anything about farming and never grew anything (except about of pound of tobacco in 2010). If they ever legalize growing industrial hemp, I have the lawn that proves I can grow weeds!Saw the TED talk with the guy that says he can fix the African desert with controlled grazing, which led me to Geoff Lawton videos. The Lawton videos were, to me, amazing. I read alot of truth news, and have read Rawles's, "The Patriot" and "America Overthrown," by Dean. I may have 100-200 hours of reading and video watching in. Marcin Jakubowski's machine interest me at Global Village Construction (so, I took a welding course)

Here's my early idea, please critique.

Cheap/frugal is my budget.

5-10 acres farm/recreational in St. Clair, Lapeer,or Jackson county. 2-3000 $/acre. Zoning expertise welcomed.

Organic or better crops. Bypass USDA org cert

Food forest of nut & fruit trees (I love nuts). If possible grown from seed that I bought as groceries. Thoughts, please.

Get a decent crossbow & become proficient with it,

Learn how to make dams and ponds.

Oehler 50 bux underground house. Heated by rocket mass. Electric via wood gas & a generator? & maybe brew beer with those high temps, too?

I know nothing about water wells, help. Suppose I'll need filtration, too.

How & what fruit and vegtables do I polyculture for fertilzation, pest control (& pollination?).

Can I have perch & pickerel fish ponds?

I like milk & steaks (and those Meatsmith Economy of Thrift videos)

What about making herbal oils (17 bux an ounce for oregano oil)?

Thanks, all

Michael

Sounds like you have a good idea of where you're headed. I am also interested in the abilities of wood-gas, but i'd never thought of using it to brew beer too! I love that idea. I am considering buying land too, although it's not cheap to buy good land I will consider it an investment. I love Michigan and am thinking of staying here if at all possible. I am looking at land near to Grand Rapids but in the outer lying counties where prices are lower and acres are higher. Possibly in the future I could be looking at a place near Ludington. I love that area and the Manistee National Forest is beautiful. I've watched some videos and read articles about the cool urban farming going on in Detriot too, I was wondering have you been involved in any of this/ have any friends involved in this. Why I am asking is my friend is very interested in rehabbing a cheap home and land in Detriot. Cheers!

Hey I just left Ludington in January. I still have family there. It is a great area with alot of nice people! I also think that sustainability in agriculture and power are really catching on in that area! From the wind farm to the community garden I think that the Mason County area could really use some more Permaculture people to help make it great!

I hope it's okay to cross-post here. https://permies.com/t/36027/midwest-usa/Detroit-area-schools-homesteading-crafts

I would like to reply to what Michael Graydersicks wrote. I don't know how to show that is what I'm replying to since this is my first post. Just trying this out.

Anyway, hello Michiganers! I'm originally from Ludington (and I agree permaculture would be great there) and I'm currently in Caro. I'm taking Geoff Lawton's PDC online at the moment. Geoff had a wonderful example I'd thought I'd share on the forum.

His story was about a gentleman who took his live PDC. He was scared of Y2K and he wanted a secure home for very little money. He took Geoff as a consultant. Geoff used his work for this man as an example of what you can do on a small budget. The observations of slope, orientation of the land, and the needs of the client, he crafted first a pond (aka its called a dam in Australia) which would over flow to another pond. But this pond was larger and it had two swales off the sides. The dirt from the pond was used to make three compacted earth walls for a house. The owner put rafters with a roof and front with windows then had a house to fill up with stuff! All of the earth works costed $800. The owner had the swales to put all the food to grow he would need to live and the ponds to grow aquaculture food.

I'm not sure any building codes would like it but may be if you call it a summer home it would work!

Hi Doug and welcome to permies
ya might call it a tornado shelter and get away with it
we are formerly from Port Huron and live just south of copper harbor now

Mike

Hey I just left Ludington in January. I still have family there. It is a great area with alot of nice people! I also think that sustainability in agriculture and power are really catching on in that area! From the wind farm to the community garden I think that the Mason County area could really use some more Permaculture people to help make it great!

I'm from Ludington too! We live in town, and are trying our hand at an urban homesteading approach, on a 60x140 lot. We've built a small hugelkulture in our back yard and Are adding in fruit trees and berries plants, this summer. Little by little, my lawn is disappearing. We keep chickens at my parents house, because they aren't legal in town.
The area is a beautiful one, but it is also VERY conventionally farmed. Even the organic CSA's that have been popping up, are still done in rows with tilling,etc. It would be awesome if someone else around here knew exactly what I was talking about when I said, HUGELKULTURE! or POLYCULTURE!
Usually I just get blank stares...or nervous glances.
But it is very comforting to know that there are so many more of you, so close by!

Jenna Sanders wrote:

Hey I just left Ludington in January. I still have family there. It is a great area with alot of nice people! I also think that sustainability in agriculture and power are really catching on in that area! From the wind farm to the community garden I think that the Mason County area could really use some more Permaculture people to help make it great!

I'm from Ludington too! We live in town, and are trying our hand at an urban homesteading approach, on a 60x140 lot. We've built a small hugelkulture in our back yard and Are adding in fruit trees and berries plants, this summer. Little by little, my lawn is disappearing. We keep chickens at my parents house, because they aren't legal in town.
The area is a beautiful one, but it is also VERY conventionally farmed. Even the organic CSA's that have been popping up, are still done in rows with tilling,etc. It would be awesome if someone else around here knew exactly what I was talking about when I said, HUGELKULTURE! or POLYCULTURE!
Usually I just get blank stares...or nervous glances.
But it is very comforting to know that there are so many more of you, so close by!

that is half the fun of hugelkulture [the blank stares]
we also grow tomatoes year round using Hydroponics
ya tell any body that and they say ''sure ya are''[they think your growing maryjane]
till they see ripe tomatoes at Christmas time

Mike

Hey Brad, I am in Royal Oak and just getting started. I have some plants I could divide: ever bearing strawberries, oregano, sage, bee balm. I have a lot of other stuff but it isn't thriving yet. I would love to get some info on the rabbits and quail! Also, do you have any confidence with swales? I could use some help. Thanks,
Dan

Hey I just left Ludington in January. I still have family there. It is a great area with alot of nice people! I also think that sustainability in agriculture and power are really catching on in that area! From the wind farm to the community garden I think that the Mason County area could really use some more Permaculture people to help make it great!

There is some land I am actually looking into near Ludington as of a few days ago. It's in Idlewild and it is about 5 acres with a creek bordering it, there seems to be a bunch for sale in this village right now; I found another parcel of 5 acres for 12,500. I just got back from camping at Lundinton State Park hike in sites- Jack Pines- and am already missing that area. It is such a beautiful place where nature is still wild, I like all the undeveloped beach that stretches through Nordhouse and Manistee Forest.

Hello my fellow Michigan Permies!! I would have never understood this title prior to my Northern life (raised in FL, travelled due to an army contract for 5 years, met my husband in Korea, and made the move back to his hometown area).

I was super excited to find this thread! I've lived in West MI (drifting between Muskegon, Ravenna, and Allendale area) fora lilittle over a year now. I'm a little sad that from what I know geographically, there isn't anyone super close to me :/

If and when there's a big permie party, I would love to partake! I frequent the Grand Rapids outdoor farmers market on weekends that I'm in town. My husband and I are finally going to be moving into a more long term situation, a house this weekend with a friend of ours. We're going 50/50 on the purchase so we all benefit from the investment as well as the lower cost of living!

We're super excited for this move because prior to that we lived in a townhouse, and his dads house. That of course limited what we could do gardening and project wise.

Since we're currently over the road truck drivers, our start plans are minimal. This fall/winter I plan on building a bee box/hive (what type I'm not too sure yet) and make plans for my bee feed garden. Since a bee hive is about as hands off as you can get (I think).

I'm going to attach a photo in hopes of getting a hello by some off chance I'm recognized.

I love the Fulton Street Farmer's Market! I try to go there every weekend in the summer/fall as I live close by. Still dreaming about land in the country. Still living in Grand Rapids, it isnt too bad though. Anyone close to GR go to ArtPrize this year?

We all just lost our rights to have chickens and are our kids next?

I didn't realize there are so many people local to my area... I am new to permies, but have been learning about permaculture for about a 1.5 years. I'm from the Port Huron area with a couple acres to experiment with.

I am currently composting and making biochar and experimenting with different ways to charge the biochar.
I am also trying to understand more about design prior to going crazy with planting everything.
I'm getting ready to plant some trees in November which will be a start to exciting new hobby I've found.

I'm glad to see there are a lot of people around my area with some knowledge about permaculture.

I'm excited to keep reading about all of your projects also.

Lee

My wife and I are still working on our escape from New Jersey and (for her) return to Michigan.

In researching properties I have been running across some confusing information regarding wetlands. I found maps showing something they refer to as "wetlands inventory" that appear to show an amazing percentage of southeastern MI as being "wetlands". What I am not finding, so far, is any resource that clearly indicates what areas are actually protected wetlands.

With a permaculture outlook, I don't find the prospect of "wetlands" on my future farm to be a big problem (just grow things that like growing there, duh ).

BUT - I don't want to spend a bunch of time evaluating a property where the government is not going to allow me to utilize the wetlands because they are somehow "protected".

Is anyone familiar with a data source that can tell me whether a given property is subject to legal restrictions on wetlands utilization?

Came across a listing for 125 acres, with an old apple orchard, for about $1,500 an acre. Sounds and looks (aerial photographs, thank you goggle) really interesting and is, for the area, pretty darn cheap. But it, and another couple of possibly interesting properties, show up as being largely "wetlands". It is the discovery of these very interesting properties with this potential very big turnoff that makes me eager to find a source of clear information on the wetlands issue.

Hello Michigan Permies!!
I am looking for bees to purchase and was hoping that some of you may know of a good apiary or beekeeper to buy from in this area?
We will be new beekeepers, with a top bar hive.
Any tidbits you have to offer would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks

Just reporting in from big rapids.
Small natural farmer; we love to host people and show off what we do and dream. Any interest email me. You can get ahold of my email thru provisionfamilyfarms.com

Thanks,
Luke

We just moved to Oakland/Macomb county line, north of Detroit, from Toledo, Ohio. New job for hubby. I'm excited that there are quite a few Permaculture groups here in SE Michigan. I have been able to go to several in-person workshops (or skillshares) hosted by the various Permaculture groups that I participate in. In November, I attended two different workshops: a rocket stove workshop as well as a “making hard cider” demonstration. In December, I attended a meeting wherein three presenters presented their craft in short demonstrations: carving wooden spoons, making paper and wool felting.

It's really good to be in community with local permies.

For anyone Following this thread;
Check out this new thread for ideas on bartering meetups, creating a permaculture group, etc.
https://permies.com/t/47011/midwest-usa/Plant-Swap-Exchange-Grand-Rapids#374800

DeLaney Becker-Baratta wrote:

Hey I just left Ludington in January. I still have family there. It is a great area with alot of nice people! I also think that sustainability in agriculture and power are really catching on in that area! From the wind farm to the community garden I think that the Mason County area could really use some more Permaculture people to help make it great!

There is some land I am actually looking into near Ludington as of a few days ago. It's in Idlewild and it is about 5 acres with a creek bordering it, there seems to be a bunch for sale in this village right now; I found another parcel of 5 acres for 12,500. I just got back from camping at Lundinton State Park hike in sites- Jack Pines- and am already missing that area. It is such a beautiful place where nature is still wild, I like all the undeveloped beach that stretches through Nordhouse and Manistee Forest.

Hello all, I'm looking for fellow Permies in South West, MI, (Preferably near Grand Rapids) but anywhere nearby also. My intention is that we can exchange a fair amount of knowledge, energy & genetic diversity.
If you're interesting in seeing more, please follow this thread.

https://permies.com/t/47011/midwest-usa/Plant-Swap-Exchange-Grand-Rapids#374800

Please tag anyone else you know of from our region! Thanks for your attention.

Brian McCune wrote:Hello all, I'm looking for fellow Permies in South West, MI, (Preferably near Grand Rapids) but anywhere nearby also.

The Van Buren/Kalamazoo Permaculture group is pretty active, both in real life and on Facebook: http://www.vankalpermaculture.org

Hi guys. Just wanted to suggest that everyone get some chickens. Hi, the earthquake on the 2nd was epicentered behind my house. Going to be a lovely summer I think. Anyone get frost yesterday?

Daniel Morse wrote:Hi guys. Just wanted to suggest that everyone get some chickens. Hi, the earthquake on the 2nd was epicentered behind my house. Going to be a lovely summer I think. Anyone get frost yesterday?

snow on the ground this am and we got a little shaker up here on the ridge [new crack in grout joint]

Mike

Kim here, SE Michigan. Grew up on family farm in SW Michigan, can't decide if urban or rural is for me, so both! Love gardening! Just going to be hanging out here for awhile, looking for tips and tricks!

I love that this has been going on for three years! Anyway, My husband and I are also new to Mi. We moved here a year ago from Seattle and are still getting to know the area. We are in Lansing. We don't have much land but we head up a local community garden, home brew, and build bat boxes! My husband is starting Vetrinary medicine in the fall at MSU and also has a degree in photography. I have been interested in permaculture for about 3 years now and have tried some small scale things but I am embarrassed to say I have a bit of a brown thumb. Any local tips would be welcome and we would love to meet up with people in the area. We also host monthly couch surfing meet ups if anyone is interested in that. 😺

- Sabrina and Peter